Building apparatus and method of making same



J. C. WARING Aug. 20, 1968 BUILDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 4, 1966 JAMES c. WARING HIS ATTORNEYS Aug.1968 J. c. WARING 3,397,494

I BUILDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April 4, 1966 4Sheets-Sheet 2 wwvv INVENTOR JAMES C. WARING HIS ATTORNEYS A 1968 J. c.WARING 3,397,494

BUILDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April 4, 1966 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JAMES C. WARING 43 BY HIS ATTORNEYS Aug. 0, 1968J. c. WARING 3,397,494

BUILDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April 4, 1966 I 4Sheets-Sheet 4 I I I.

INVENTOR. JAMES C. WARING BY "224.9 A7% 4 HIS ATTORIQEYS United StatesPatent 3,397,494 BUILDING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME James C.Waring, Richmond, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond,Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed A r. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 539,997 5Claims. (Cl. 52--122) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relatesto a building construction and method of making same in whichprefabricated wall panels are supported on generally Z-shaped beamsupports. Each beam support is precisely adjusted to position a topstraight edge thereof for use as a screed used in leveling a pouredfloor formed within the outline of the beam supports whilesimultaneously positioning a supporting surface for such prefabricatedpanels.

This invention pertains to building construction and more particularlyto an improved apparatus and method for supporting prefabricated wallmeans of a building relative to associated floor means.

Many of the present buildings which are constructed using prefabricatedvertical wall panels have no provision for easily and economicallyadjusting the apparatus supporting such wall panels so as to preciselyposition them with respect to an associated supporting floor. Suchpresent buildings usually require that the wall panels be provided withspecial slots or openings therein for receiving fastening rodstherethrough. The fastening rods generally extend through such slots forthe full length of the panels and cooperate with additional specialplates which are placed along the top of the vertical wall panels. Thevertical wall panels are usually fastened between such plates and asupport for the vertical wall panels through the use of the fasteningrods. A building using wall panels of this type with such top plates andvertical rods is not only expensive because of the additional componentsbut is also expensive due to the excessive time required for assemblythereof while providing a structure of diminished strength.

In using prefabricated wall panels such as panels of honeycombconstruction, for example, the provision of any opening or slot thereinreduces the effective crosssectional area and thus the structuralstrength of these panels. Furthermore, it is especially important thatthe supporting structure for prefabricated wall panels support suchpanels in precise alignment with respect to each and their associatedfloor.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to provide a buildingapparatus of simple and economical construction which uses a minimum ofstructural parts and provides a structure of high strength.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a building apparatuswhich enables construction of poured floor means having maximum surfaceflatness.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a supporting apparatusfor wall means which is also used as a form for poured floor means whileusing a top straight edge thereof as a screed for leveling thetop-surface of such poured floor means. 1

Another feature of this invention is to provide a building apparatus forsupporting vertical wall means/associated therewith by fastening to thelower end portion of such wall means while keeping such lower endportion structurally intact and thus of maximum structural strength.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a building apparatuswhich is used as a support for prefabricated "Ice wall panels and whichincludes means for adjustingsuch apparatus to thus adjust the relativeposition of such panels with floor means associated therewith.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a building apparatususing a double-faced adhesive strip which is clamped between suchapparatus and thelower end portion of prefabricated wall panels toadhesively fasten such panels to an associated supporting structure.

Another feature of this invention is to provide such a buildingapparatus which uses a generally U-shaped channel to supportprefabricated wall panels. of honeycomb construction and having thinmetallic outside surfaces wherein such panels are rigidly fixed at'theirlower end tosuch U-shaped channel without cutting holes or slots in suchpanels to thereby provide a structure of maximum strength. j

Another feature of this invention is to provide a building method inwhich floor and wall means of a building are efficiently andeconomically constructed.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a method for adjustingsupporting apparatus for prefabricated wall means to permit fasteningsuch wall means normally to a supporting floor therefor and to permitaligning such supporting apparatus to enable simple assembly of aplurality of adjoining wall means.

Another feature of this invintion is to provide a method for fasteningprefabricated wall means to form a building structure without weakeningthe wall means.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an apparatus and methodfor laying out and building a high strength structure inexpensively andin a minimum of time by utilizing prefabricated corner units inassociation with straight sections of varying lengths as determined bythe desired lengths of the walls of a building being constructed.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedapparatus and method having one or more of the novel features of thisinvention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improvedv structuraldevices adapted to be used in building construction or the like toprovide structures of maximum strength.

Other objects, uses, and advantages of this invention are apparent froma reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the supporting apparatus of thisinvention arranged to define a building unit of generally rectangularoutline and particularly showing means for supporting and adjusting thevertical position of such supporting apparatus.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged p1anview illustrating a corner'of the supportingapparatus of FIGURE 1 and also showing the arrangement or a cornerbrace.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view with parts broken away showingin'fulllines one of the vertically arranged threaded rods which carriesthe supporting apparatus of FIGURE 1 and showing means for adjustingsuch apparatus along such rod enabling it to be precisely positionedtherealong for use "as a screed and as a support for prefabricated wallpanel means.

FIGURE 4 is a'sectional view illustrating poured concrete floor means inwhich the supportingappar'atus is being used as a screed for a levelingmember being used to level such concrete floor and'also illustratingsuch supporting apparatus being used as concrete form means cooperatingwith a wooden form at the'peripheral edges of such floor.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view illustrating prefabricated wall meanssupported on the supporting apparatus of FIGURE 1 and showing fasteningmeans associating only with the lower end portion of such prefabricatedwall means to thereby hold such wall means in position.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the supportingapparatus of FIGURE 1 and of the lower end portion of a prefabricatedwall means to be supported thereon particularly illustrating fasteningmeans for such wall means including a pair of doublefaced adhesivestrips.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view illustrating a preformed corner assembly of asupporting apparatus and its stabilizing brace and also illustrating themanner of attaching such preformed assembly to associated straightsections of supporting apparatus.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view illustrating major components of thesupporting apparatus of this invention used with a wood floor andshowing the use of a wooden baseboard therewith.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view illustrating the supporting apparatus ofFIGURE 8 modified to eliminate the wooden baseboard.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustratedand described as being particularly adaptable for providing an improvedapparatus and method for forming poured floor means and supportingprefabricated wall means such as prefabricated wall panels of honeycombconstruction or the like, it is to be understood that the variousfeatures of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combinationthereof to provide an apparatus and method for forming other types offloors and supporting other types -of associated wall means.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate examples of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

The improved building apparatus and method of this invention forsupporting prefabricated wall means and for providing screed means forassociateed poured floor means enables use of simple devices to provideeconomical and eflicient construction while providing maximum structuralstrength. The exemplary supporting apparatus as illustrated in thedrawings includes an elongated generally Z-shaped metallic support forsupporting the prefabricated wall panel means and has a horizontalcentral portion and a pair of flanges extending vertically in oppositedirections therefrom with the upwardly extending flange having acontrolled straight edge and the downwardly extending flange havingmeans for attaching plate means thereto. The generally Z-shaped supportis carried on vertically arranged supporting rods each having one oftheir ends firmly secured and their opposite end provided with means forengaging and adjusting such Z-shaped member therealong. This adjustmentpositions the previously mentioned straight edge so that it may be usedas a screed for' leveling the poured floor means as well assimultaneously and precisely adjusting the position of the prefabiicatedwall means to be carried thereon relative to the poured floor means. Inaddition, the Z-shaped member serves as form means for the poured floormeans. The above mentioned plate means is generally elongated in shapecorresponding to the length of the Z-shaped device and has a width widerthan the downwardly extending flange. The plate means is bolted to thedownwardly extending flange of the Z-shaped member so that a portionthereof extends above the horizontal portion of said Z-shaped member andparallel to the other leg of the Z-shaped member to define a U-shapedchannel. A terminal end portion of the prefabricated wall panel means isreceived within the U-shaped channel and adhesively fastened to theU-sha-ped channel by doublefa-ced adhesive means which is insertedbetween one or both of the outwardly extending legs of the U-shapedchannel and the terminal end portion of the prefabricated wall means.Upon lbolting the plate means to the downwardly extending leg of theZ-shaped member only the outside surface of the terminal end portion ofthe prefabricated wall panel means is firmly engaged within the U-shapedchannel and rigidly adhesively fastened thereto by the adhesive meanswithout damage to the prefabricated wall panel. This assures that theprefabricated panel will have maximum structural integrity whileproviding a combined structure of maximum strength.

A structural building apparatus is illustrated in FIG- URE l forsupporting prefabricated wall means and providing screed and form meansfor poured floor means.

-Such apparatus includes an elongated metallic support or Z-shaped metalmember or beam 20 arranged to outline a building unit of a building.

Z-shaped beam 20 is formed as by extruding and is preferably made of arelatively lightweight metal such as aluminum or an alloy containingaluminum. As shown particularly in FIGURE 3, beam 20 has a centralportion 21 which is arranged horizontally in this example and a pair ofoutwardly extending flanges 22 and 23 arranged generally normal to thecentral portion 21 and projecting from the terminal sides of centralportion 21 in opposite directions. The top surface of the centralportion 21 provides bearing means or a bearing surface, illustrated at25, for supporting thereon the prefabricated wall means.

A plurality of beams 20 are shown in the example illustrated in FIGURE 1and such beams are suitably fastened together and arranged in arectangular outline to define the peripheral outer edges of poured floormeans, illustrated as a concrete floor 24 in FIGURE 4 of this exemplaryembodiment, to be poured therewithin. Beams 20 are precisely supportedand adjusted to provide screed means for precisely forming the surfaceof such floor means as well as providing the supporting structure at theperipheral edges of the rectangular outline for supporting prefabricatedwall means to be carried thereon as will be preseritly described.

Supporting member means shown as a plurality of vertically extendingthreadedrods 26 are provided to support the generally Z-shaped beam 20along its length. Only a representative one on each side of therectangular outline structure of FIGURE 1 has been designated with thenumeral 26.

As shown particularly in FIGURES 3 and 4, each of the elongated threadedrods 26 is held at its lower end on a bearing plate 27 placed on a firmsupport such as the ground surface or a suitable bearing surface. A nut28 is threaded on such lower end of rod 26 and engages plate 27 tothereby hold each rod 26 in supporting relation on its bearing plate 27.

The upper end of each rod 26 includes means for adjusting the positionof each Z-shaped supporting beam 20 and thereby position the topvertical edge 31 thereof so that it may be used as a screed for thepoured concrete floor means 24 while simultaneously adjusting such beamto position the bearing means 25 thereof for precise support ofprefabricated wall means or panels to be supported thereon. A pluralityof spaced apart holes designated by the numeral 29 are provided incentral portion 21 of beam 20. The upper end of each rod 26 extendsthrough a couperating hole 29 and the amount of extension therethroughis determined by the adjusting means. The adjusting means comprises anut 32 threaded on the upper end portion of rod 26 and a slotted washer33 carried on nut 32 and arranged between the central portion 21 of beam20 and nut 32. The vertical position of beam 20 is adjusted by threadingnut 32 and its washer 33 up and down on rod 26 and once the correctposition of such beam has been established a bearing washer 34 is placedon top of the central portion 21 and a nut 35 is threaded on the upperend portion of rod 26 'with beam 20 fastened between nuts 32 and 35 andtheir associated washers 33 and 34. The correct position of beam 20 isdetermined by using a leveling instrument or the like to provide a levelsurface or one with a controlled inclination and is more readilydetermined by using slotted washer 33. 1

It will be appreciated that such a slotted washer, although shown havingonly one thickness, could be of different thickness and one or more ofsuch washers could 5 be used as shims to achieve the desired position ofbeam 20 without requiring that both nuts 32 and 35 on each rod be turnedin each instance. Each slotted washer is of course held in position byits asociated nut and adjoining portion of beam 20. However, with apoured concrete floor 1 construction as illustrated in the embodiment ofthe invention of FIGURES 1-6, each washer 33 and nut 32 is embedded inposition in the concrete once such concrete hardens.

As will be apparent from FIGURES 3 and 4 the total define the peripheralvertical wall surrounding the concrete floor as well as provide thesupporting member for supporting the prefabricated wall means or panels,one of which is illustrated at 37 in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Unique fastening means is provided for fastening each prefabricatedpanel 37 to the portion of supporting memher or beam 20 associatedtherewith. The fastening means only associates wtih a terminal endportion shown in this example as the lower end portion of theprefabricated wall panels 37. Each prefabricated panel 37 is placed onbearing surface 25 of beam 20 after having adjusted such beam andbearing surface as desired and each panel 37 is fastened to beam 20without requiring holes or slots through such panel or disrupting thestructural integrity of the panel in any way. The fastening meansengages only the outside vertical surfaces at the lower end portion ofeach panel 37 to thereby fix each panel 37 to beam 20 and provide astructural apparatus having maximum structural strength and rigidity.

The perspective view of FIGURE 6 illustrates elongated Z-shaped beam 20with the lower end portion of prefabricated wall panel 37 positionedimmediately above such beam and also illustrates a plate 40 used inclamping the lower end portion of panel 37 to Z-shaped beam 20 toprovide the fastening action. Plate 40 corresponds in length to beam 20and has a width wider than lower flange 23 of beam 20.

Attaching means is provided to attach plate 40 to beam 20 and comprisesa plurality of threaded bolts 41 each threaded into cooperating threadedholes 39 in beam 20'.

Plate 40 is located on beam 20 by projecting ridge means shown as aridge 42 extending along the terminal end portion of the plate 40. Ridge42 cooperates with groove means shown as an elongated groove 43 inflange 23 of beam 20. Groove 43 extends along the terminal end of flange23. It will be seen that plate 40 is located so that it extends upwardlybeyond the central portion 21 and parallel to flange 22 of beam 20 todefine a generally U-shapcd channel.

Thus, it is seen that the terminal end portion of each prefabricatedwall panel 37 is placed within the U-shaped channel with its terminalend resting on bearing surface 25. Plate 40 is then fastened by bolts 41to beam 20 thereby slightly compressing the lower end portion of panel37 within the U-shaped channel. While this compression provides someholding action it is generally not suflicient for structural purposesand each panel 37 is preferably adhesively fixed to beam 20. The spacingacross the U-shaped channel is closely controlled to cooperate with thethickness of each panel 37.

The apparatus and method of this invention is particularly adaptable forsupporting and transferring loads from prefabricated panels having ahoneycomb construction in which the outer 'surfaces are normally verythin and particularly in transferring loads from paper honeycomb panelshaving thin metal faces. A structure of much greater strength isprovided by fastening such honeycomb panels without cutting'or slottingany part thereof and merely fastening by engaging only their outsidesurfaces.

As shown particularly in FIGURE 6 the fastening means includesdouble-faced adhesive strip means shown as apair of double-facedadhesive strips 44 and 45.

Adhesive strips 44 and 45 are sandwiched between flange 22 .and one sideof prefabricated wall panel 37 while adhesive strip 45 is sandwichedbetween the opposite side of the prefabricated wall panel 37 and plate40. Thus, upon placing the lower end of each prefabricated Wall panel 37on the bearing surface 25, the lower end portion of panel 37 issandwiched with adhesive strips 44 and 45 on opposite sides and withinthe U-shaped channel such that upon tightening bolts 41 each panel 37 isfixed to its associated portion of Z-shaped beam 20 to provide a highstrength structure.

As will be apparent from FIGURES 3 and 4, flange 22 of beam 20 extendsoutwardly and downwardly at its terminal end to define a lip 46extending below the terminal end illustrated at 47. Lip 46 extendsgenerally parallel to the main portion of the flange 22. It will be seenthat lip 46 provides a hooking end which is filled with poured concretewhich sets to provide a mechanical interlock between the upper end ofbeam 20 and the formed concrete floor. The extension of the terminal endof flange 22 generally transverse the vertical portion of such flangeprior to hooking downwardly to define lip 46 provides a Wide surfacearea and hence a better metallic screed element having greater strength.It will be appreciated that such metallic screed can also be moreprecisely controlled to provide a straight edge superior to wood orother types of screed elements.

As particularly illustrated in FIGURE 4 the arrangement of the plate 27,nut 28, slotted washer 33, and nut 32 on rod 26 Within the concretefloor provides a tie or a reinforcing rod for the concrete structure. Ofcourse, such arrangement also provides a more stable tie for beam 20about the peripheral edge of the floor defined thereby.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a preformed corner assembly 50, shown in thisexample as a right angle corner, in which a pair of elongated Z-shapedbeams 20 are arranged to define such corner. The details of each beam 20were described previously. By using preformed corners such as 50 whichhave the desired angles for the building to be constructed such buildingis laid out efliciently and in a minimum of time. Each corner assembly50 associates at its terminal ends with cooperating straight sections ofbeam 20 to define the peripheral outline of a complete building or of abuilding unit within such building.

Preformed corner 50 is attached to straight sections of beam 20 by apair of plates 51 and 52 arranged one at each free end of corner 50.Each plate 51 and 52 is suitably fastened as by bolts to assembly 50 andto its associated straight section to provide a structural tietherebetween.

Each corner assembly 50 has a reinforcing bar 53, arranged in thisninety degree angle corner at a 45 degree angle to a straight side,which accurately fixes the included angle. Bar 53 assures that the angleof assembly 50 is not inadvertantly changed during buildingconstruction.

The exemplary embodiment of the invention of FIG- URES 8 and 9 shows astructural device of: this invention adapted to be used with a floorwhich has been preformed prior to assembling thereon the supportingapparatus for the prefabricated wall panels 37. In this embodimentZ-shaped beam 20 is shown attached to a preformed wood floor indicatedin both FIGURES 8 and 9 by the numeral 54. Identical parts in thislatter embodiment will be designated by the same numeral as in theprevious embodiment and where the function and operation is the'same asin the previous embodiment the full description will not be repeated.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by sectional view inFIGURE 8 each Z-shaped beam 20 is fastened to the preformed wood floor54 by a plurality of wood screws each indicated by thenurneral 55. Theprefabricated panel 37 is held in position between flange 22 and plate40 by bolts 41 and is adhesively fixed in position by adhesive strips 44and 45 arranged respectively between flange 22 and plate 40 andassociated outer surfaces of panel 37.

The downwardly extending lip 46 is utilized to hold a baseboard 56 inposition. Baseboard 56 has a groove and projection at its upper endwhich cooperates with lip 46.

The modification of the invention illustrated in FIG- URE 9 is basicallysimilar to the embodiment of FIG- URE 8 and thus will not be describedin detail. In this modification a generally Z-shaped beam is illustratedwhich is identical to beam 20 with the exception that the terminal endof its upwardly projecting flange indicated by the numeral 22A isstraight and does not have the downwardly hooking end or lip 46 shown inthe previous embodiments. For this reason the generally Z-shaped beam ofFIGURE 9 will still be designated by the numeral 20 and all associatedcomponents will likewise be designated by the same numeral as in theembodiment of FIGURE 8. Furthermore, because the description for thislatter embodiment is basically identical to the description presented inFIGURE 8 it will not be repeated here.

To use the apparatus of this invention the method steps as describedhereinafter can be used. A surface is suitably prepared for theformation of a poured floor means such as a poured concrete floor or thelike. In the case of a foundation and a ground level floor structure,the ground is suitably prepared to receive the poured concrete. Agenerally Z-shaped metal beam 20 is suitably arranged to outline thefloor and vertical walls of a building. FIGURE 1, for example,illustrates beam 20 arranged to define a rectangular floor and wallsupporting apparatus. Although not shown in FIGURE 1, four preformedcorner units such as the one illustrated in FIG- URE 7 could be suitablyattached to associated straight sections to define the rectangularstructure.

As previously described Z-sha'ped beam 20 has a central portion 21 whichhas a bearing surface 25 which is arranged generally horizontally and apair of outwardly extending flanges 22 and 23 which are arrangedgenerally normal to central portion 21. Flange 22 projects verticallyupwardly and has a terminal straight edge 47 at the top thereof whilealso having a booking end with a lip 46 parallel to the main portion offlange 22 which will be used as will be apparent later. Flange 23projects vertically downwardly and has a locating groove 43 forattaching a cooperating plate 40 thereto as will be later described.

The plurality of supporting members or threaded rods 26 of generallyequal length are each next adjustably' fastened to beam 20 at one endwhile placing the opposite end in the firm supporting ground. The lowerend of rods 26 are each kept from sinking into the ground by use of alower bearing plate 27 and nut 28. The upper end of each rod 26- isfastened to beam 26 by passing through an associated hole in such beam.A nut 32 and slotted washer 33 adjusts the vertical position of beam 20while a washer 34 and nut 35 holds such beam in position.

Beam 20 is adjusted along its length to position it and the metalstraight edge 47 to define the desired surface flatness or inclinationof the floor to be formed. A suitable leveling instrument may be used tohelp position such straight edge.

With beam 20' properly set a wooden form member 36 is placed (see FIGURE4) to cooperate between it and the ground to define the verticalsupporting wall for the concrete floor. A plurality of stakes 60 aredriven along form 36 to keep it from moving out of position.

The concrete floor 24 is poured next and straight edge 47 provides aprecision screed upon which a leveling member 61 rests to level theconcrete prior to troweling and floating. It will be appreciated thatthe concrete flows around rod 26 and its associated components prior tosetting to provide a reinforcing rod for the concrete once it ha'rdens.Also lip 46 is bonded into the concrete to mechanically lock the upperend of beam 20 into the concrete.

Plate 40 is loosely fastened to beam 20 by bolts 41 and prefabricatedwall panel 37 is placed with its terminal end on bearing surface 25.Adhesive strips 44 and 45 are then inserted adjacent the outer lower endsurfaces of wall 37 and plate 40 is tightened by bolts 41 to beam 20 tothereby adhesively fix prefabricated wall panel 20 in position. It willbe appreciated of course, that this method fixes each wall 37 in theoptimum desired relation with respect to floor 24 and other adjoiningprefabricated panels.

Thus, it is seen that a building apparatus has been provided which is ofsimple and economical construction and which enables efiicientconstruction of high strength floor and associated prefabricated wallmeans by clamping and adhesively fixing such wall means in positionmerely by engaging only the outside surface thereof while keeping suchprefabricated wall means structurally intact.

Further, this invention provides an improved building method forconstructing buildings using prefabricated walls which is efiicient andinexpensive yet does not compromise structural quality and strength.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by statute, other forms may be used, all coming Within thescope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. A building construction comprising, an elongated metallic support forsupporting a vertical wall, straight edge means defining a top edge onsaid support, a bearing surface on said support for supporting aterminal end portion of said vertical wall, adjustable support means forsecuring said elongated support and precisely adjusting the positionthereof to position said straight edge means so that it may be used as ascreed in forming associated poured floor means while simultaneouslyadjusting the position of said bearing surface and hence the location ofsaid vertical wall to be supported thereon, and a fastening plate forclamping said terminal end portion of said vertical Wall to said supportto provide a structure having maximum structural strength, saidelongated metallic support comprising an elongated generally Z-shapedmetal member having a horizontally disposed central portion and a pairof oppositely extending flanges arranged generally normal to saidcentral portion, said fastening plate corresponding in length to saidgenerally Z-shaped member and having a width wider than the extent ofone of said pair of flanges, and attaching screws attaching said plateto said one flange so that said plate is supported solely by said oneflange with part of said plate extending beyond said central portion andcooperating therewith and with the other of said pair of flanges todefine a generally U-shaped channel receiving the terminal lower endportion of said vertical wall therein whereby said lower end portion ofsaid vertical wall is clamped within said U-shaped channel to therebyrigidly attach said vertical wall to said generally Z-shaped metalmember.

2. A building construction as set forth in claim 1 and furthercomprising a double-faced adhesive strip sandwiched between an outwardlyextending leg of said U-shaped channel and an associated outer surfaceof said vertical wall whereby said lower end portion of said verticalwall in said U-shaped channel is adhesively fixed to said Z-shapedmember thereby providing said high strength structure while keeping saidvertical wall structurally intact.

3. A building construction comprising, an elongated metallic deviceformed to define the perimeter of a building unit and arranged tosupport prefabricated wall panels and provide a screed for a pouredfloor formed therewithin, said elongated metallic device comprising, anelongated generally Z-shaped metal member having a central portionproviding a horizontal bearing surface for a terminal lower end of saidwall panels and a pair of oppositely extending flanges arrangedgenerally normal to said central portion, a groove extending along oneof said flanges adjacent its bottom edge, a plate corresponding inlength to said Z-shaped member and having a width wider than the extentof said one flange, a projecting ridge extending along said plateadjacent one edge thereof, said ridge being seated within said groove tolocate said plate on said Z-shaped metal member, said plate extendingbeyond said central portion and parallel to the other of said flanges todefine a generally U-shaped channel, and a mechanical interlock on saidother flange, said mechanical interlock comprisin a further flange atthe remote end of said other flange and extending outwardly anddownwardly from the top edge of said other flange to define a lipextending below said top edge, said top edge providing a controlledstraight edge, supporting member means for supporting said elongatedmetallic device on a base, means for precisely adjusting said elongatedmetallic device to position said controlled straight edge for use assaid screed for said poured floor while simultaneously adjusting theposition of said bearing surface and hence the location of saidprefabricated wall panels whereby said mechanical interlock mechanicallyties the upper end portion of said elongated metallic device to saidfloor, a double-faced adhesive strip sandwiched between an outwardlyextending leg of said U-shaped channel and a lower end portion of saidprefabricated wall panels, and attaching means attaching said plate tosaid one flange and thereby clamping said lower end portion of saidprefabricated wall panels within said U-shaped channel and therebyadhesively fixing said prefabricated wall panels to said elongatedmetallic device in correct relation to said floor while keeping saidwall panels structurally intact.

4. An elongated metallic structural device comprising, an elongatedgenerally Z-shaped metal member having a central portion and a pair ofoutwardly and oppositely extending flanges arranged generally normal tosaid central portion, said flanges extending from opposite edges of saidcentral portion, a groove extending along one of said flanges adjacentits terminal edge, a plate corresponding in length to said Z-shapedmember and having a width wider than the outward extension of said oneflange, a projecting ridge extending along said plate adjacent an edgethereof, said ridge being seated in said groove and locating said plateon said member so that it extends beyond said central portion andparallel to the other of said flanges to define a generally U-shapedchannel therewith,

attaching means fastening said plate to said Z-shaped metal member sothat it is carried solely thereby, and a mechanical interlock on saidother flange, said mechanical interlock comprising a further flange atthe remote end of said other flange and extending outwardly anddownwardly from the top edge of said other flange to define a lipextending below said top edge, said top edge providing a controlledstraight edge for said device.

5. A fixed angle corner member used in a building constructioncomprising, a pair of elongated metallic members, means fixing one endof said elongated members together at a desired angle to form saidcorner member, connecting means adjoining the opposite terminal endportions of said elongated members with similar members associatingtherewith, each of said pair of elongated members and each of saidsimilar members comprising, an elongated metallic structural devicecomprising, an elongated generally Z-shaped metal member having acentral portion and a pair of oppositely extending flanges arrangedgenerally normal to said central portion, a groove extending along oneof said flanges adjacent its terminal end, a plate corresponding to thelength of said Z-shaped member and having a width wider than the extentof said one flange, a projecting ridge extending along said plateadjacent one edge thereof, said ridge being seated within said groove tolocate said plate on said Z-shaped metal member, said plate extendingupwardly beyond said central portion and parallel to the other of saidflanges to define a generally U-shaped channel, attaching meansattaching said plate to said Z-shaped metal member so that it is carriedsolely thereby, and a mechanical interlock on said other flange, saidmechanical interlock comprising a further flange at the remote end ofsaid other flange and extending outwardly and downwardly from the topedge of said other flange to define a lip extending below said top edge,said top edge providing a controlled straight edge for said devicewhereby through the use of said fixed angle corner member a moreeflicient and accurate building construction is made possible.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,266,235 12/ 1941 Mollard 52-6272,373,284 4/ 1945 Autrey 52-678 2,760,238 8/1956 Lane 52-263 2,883,8524/1959 Midby 52-274 3,274,739 9/1966 Gregoire 52169 3,300,936 1/ 1967Travaglia 52169 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner.

